Isaiah 58
ישעיהו פרק נ״ח
Section: נביאים · נביאים אחרונים | Book: Isaiah | Chapter: 58 of 66 | Day: 205 of 742
Date: September 4, 2026
קלאוד על הנ״ך
Isaiah 58 is one of the most quoted and most demanding chapters in all of Nevi’im, and its liturgical placement tells us how the tradition read it: it is the haftarah of Yom Kippur morning, chanted immediately after the Torah reading of the avodah of the Day of Atonement. On the single day of the year when the entire community is fasting, Israel hears a prophet ordered to cry out with full throat, without restraint, like a shofar (קרא בגרון אל תחשוך כשופר הרם קולך), and to declare to the people their transgression. The shofar image is deliberate. The instrument that summons Israel to repentance is here the prophet’s own voice, and what it announces is not comfort but indictment. Rashi, characteristically, refuses to let the two halves of the verse be mere poetic parallelism: ‘My people’ are the talmidei chachamim, whose inadvertent errors count as deliberate transgressions because an error in learning is reckoned as willful sin, while ‘the house of Jacob’ are the unlearned, whose deliberate sins are counted as inadvertent. The chapter’s rebuke, in other words, is calibrated to every level of the community.
The opening of the indictment is a masterpiece of prophetic irony. These are not idolaters or scoffers. They seek God daily and desire knowledge of His ways (ואותי יום יום ידרשון); they ask for righteous judgments and delight in the nearness of God. The trap is the small word ‘like’ in ‘like a nation that did righteousness’ (כגוי אשר צדקה עשה) - they resemble such a nation without being one. Radak sharpens this into a general principle: one who actually does righteousness and justice may fittingly inquire how to do more, but one who does not do them only doubles his sin by inquiring, since in his very asking he compounds his guilt. Then comes the people’s own complaint, quoted in their voice: why did we fast and You did not see, why did we afflict ourselves and You take no notice? God’s reply is devastatingly concrete. On the very day of your fast you pursue your business and press your debtors (וכל עצביכם תנגשו). Rashi reads עצביכם as creditors’ victims, the debtors grieved on your account, whom you dun on the fast day itself, and Radak fills in the social scene: the fast day is precisely when the whole town assembles, so it is the ideal day to corner a debtor and squeeze him. The fast has become an instrument of oppression.
At verse five the chapter reaches its hinge, framed as a series of interrogatives: is this the fast I choose (הכזה יהיה צום אבחרהו), a day for a person to afflict himself, to bend his head like a bulrush (הלכוף כאגמון ראשו) and spread out sackcloth and ashes? Rashi notes that these opening heys are interrogative, and explains the אגמון as a bent reed or hook. The answer in verse six inverts every term: this is the fast I choose - to loosen the fetters of wickedness (פתח חרצובות רשע), to untie the bands of the yoke, to send the oppressed free, to break every yoke. Verse seven descends from the structural to the intimate: to break your bread for the hungry, to bring the wretched poor into your house, to clothe the naked, and not to hide from your own flesh (ומבשרך לא תתעלם). Rashi glosses ומבשרך simply as ‘your kinsman,’ and Radak draws the halachic implication that while feeding the hungry and clothing the naked is an obligation upon all Israel, one bears a heavier obligation toward a relative, and must not avert his eyes until the relative is reduced to begging, but rather extend him a loan and open paths by which he can earn. The prophet is not abolishing the fast; he is insisting that a day of self-affliction that leaves the debtor, the servant and the destitute exactly where they were is not the fast God chose.
The reward oracle that follows, verses eight through twelve, is built entirely of images of light, water and rebuilding. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn (אז יבקע כשחר אורך) and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness goes before you and the glory of the Lord gathers you in. Then you will call and the Lord will answer, you will cry out and He will say hineni - the same word Avraham and Moshe say to God, now spoken by God to a repaired Israel. If you draw out your soul to the hungry, your light will shine in darkness and your gloom become like noon. Rashi’s brief comment on ותפק לרעב נפשך is worth pausing over: it is not only bread but ‘consolations of good words’ - the manner of giving matters as much as the gift, a point Radak develops into the requirement of a cheerful face so the recipient knows the gift is given willingly. The promise culminates in the extraordinary title of verse twelve, that Israel will be called ‘repairer of the breach, restorer of paths for dwelling’ (גודר פרץ משובב נתיבות לשבת), which Rashi, following Targum Yonatan, reads as restoring the wicked to Torah - the settlement of the world depends on it.
The final two verses turn from the fast to the Sabbath, and they have become the foundational text of the halachah of oneg Shabbat. If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from pursuing your affairs on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight (וקראת לשבת עונג), the Lord’s holy day honored, and honor it by not going your own ways, not pursuing your affairs, and not speaking of them (ודבר דבר) - then you shall delight in the Lord, and He will set you astride the heights of the earth and feed you the heritage of Jacob your father. Radak’s comment here is essentially a compact halachic essay, gathering the derivations of Chazal from this single verse: that one honors Shabbat with clothing different from weekday clothing, walking different from weekday walking, and speech different from weekday speech, that one may transact matters of mitzvah on Shabbat since only ‘your affairs’ are forbidden, and that the phrase ‘holy of the Lord, honored’ was also read as referring to Yom Kippur, honored with clean garments since it has neither eating nor drinking. Rashi on the closing verse explains why the inheritance is specifically that of Jacob and not Abraham: Jacob’s promise was a heritage without boundaries, ‘you shall spread west and east,’ and Jacob himself kept the Sabbath. That a chapter which opens with a shofar blast of rebuke ends with delight, boundless inheritance, and the seal ‘for the mouth of the Lord has spoken’ is the whole argument of Isaiah 58 in miniature: the ritual is not the enemy of the ethical, but it is worthless without it, and when the two are joined, the fast becomes light and the Sabbath becomes joy.
פרק נ״ח · Chapter 58
פסוק א׳ · Verse 1
Hebrew:
קְרָ֤א בְגָרוֹן֙ אַל־תַּחְשֹׂ֔ךְ כַּשּׁוֹפָ֖ר הָרֵ֣ם קוֹלֶ֑ךָ וְהַגֵּ֤ד לְעַמִּי֙ פִּשְׁעָ֔ם וּלְבֵ֥ית יַעֲקֹ֖ב חַטֹּאתָֽם׃
English:
Cry with full throat, without restraint; Raise your voice like a ram’s horn! Declare to My people their transgression, To the House of Jacob their sin.
פסוק ב׳ · Verse 2
Hebrew:
וְאוֹתִ֗י י֥וֹם יוֹם֙ יִדְרֹשׁ֔וּן וְדַ֥עַת דְּרָכַ֖י יֶחְפָּצ֑וּן כְּג֞וֹי אֲשֶׁר־צְדָקָ֣ה עָשָׂ֗ה וּמִשְׁפַּ֤ט אֱלֹהָיו֙ לֹ֣א עָזָ֔ב יִשְׁאָל֙וּנִי֙ מִשְׁפְּטֵי־צֶ֔דֶק קִרְבַ֥ת אֱלֹהִ֖ים יֶחְפָּצֽוּן׃
English:
To be sure, they seek Me daily, Eager to learn My ways. Like a nation that does what is right, That has not abandoned the laws of its God, They ask Me for the right way, They are eager for the nearness of God:
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק ג׳ · Verse 3
Hebrew:
לָ֤מָּה צַּ֙מְנוּ֙ וְלֹ֣א רָאִ֔יתָ עִנִּ֥ינוּ נַפְשֵׁ֖נוּ וְלֹ֣א תֵדָ֑ע הֵ֣ן בְּי֤וֹם צֹֽמְכֶם֙ תִּמְצְאוּ־חֵ֔פֶץ וְכׇל־עַצְּבֵיכֶ֖ם תִּנְגֹּֽשׂוּ׃
English:
“Why, when we fasted, did You not see? When we starved our bodies, did You pay no heed?” Because on your fast day You see to your business And oppress all your laborers!
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק ד׳ · Verse 4
Hebrew:
הֵ֣ן לְרִ֤יב וּמַצָּה֙ תָּצ֔וּמוּ וּלְהַכּ֖וֹת בְּאֶגְרֹ֣ף רֶ֑שַׁע לֹא־תָצ֣וּמוּ כַיּ֔וֹם לְהַשְׁמִ֥יעַ בַּמָּר֖וֹם קוֹלְכֶֽם׃
English:
Because you fast in strife and contention, And you strike with a wicked fist! Your fasting today is not such As to make your voice heard on high.
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק ה׳ · Verse 5
Hebrew:
הֲכָזֶ֗ה יִֽהְיֶה֙ צ֣וֹם אֶבְחָרֵ֔הוּ י֛וֹם עַנּ֥וֹת אָדָ֖ם נַפְשׁ֑וֹ הֲלָכֹ֨ף כְּאַגְמֹ֜ן רֹאשׁ֗וֹ וְשַׂ֤ק וָאֵ֙פֶר֙ יַצִּ֔יעַ הֲלָזֶה֙ תִּקְרָא־צ֔וֹם וְי֥וֹם רָצ֖וֹן לַיהֹוָֽה׃
English:
Is such the fast I desire, A day for people to starve their bodies? Is it bowing the head like a bulrush And lying in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call that a fast, A day when GOD is favorable?
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק ו׳ · Verse 6
Hebrew:
הֲל֣וֹא זֶה֮ צ֣וֹם אֶבְחָרֵ֒הוּ֒ פַּתֵּ֙חַ֙ חַרְצֻבּ֣וֹת רֶ֔שַׁע הַתֵּ֖ר אֲגֻדּ֣וֹת מוֹטָ֑ה וְשַׁלַּ֤ח רְצוּצִים֙ חׇפְשִׁ֔ים וְכׇל־מוֹטָ֖ה תְּנַתֵּֽקוּ׃
English:
No, this is the fast I desire: To unlock fetters of wickedness, And untie the cords of the yoke To let the oppressed go free; To break off every yoke.
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק ז׳ · Verse 7
Hebrew:
הֲל֨וֹא פָרֹ֤ס לָרָעֵב֙ לַחְמֶ֔ךָ וַעֲנִיִּ֥ים מְרוּדִ֖ים תָּ֣בִיא בָ֑יִת כִּֽי־תִרְאֶ֤ה עָרֹם֙ וְכִסִּית֔וֹ וּמִבְּשָׂרְךָ֖ לֹ֥א תִתְעַלָּֽם׃
English:
It is to share your bread with the hungry, And to take the wretched poor into your home; When you see the naked, to clothe them, And not to ignore your own kin.
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק ח׳ · Verse 8
Hebrew:
אָ֣ז יִבָּקַ֤ע כַּשַּׁ֙חַר֙ אוֹרֶ֔ךָ וַאֲרֻֽכָתְךָ֖ מְהֵרָ֣ה תִצְמָ֑ח וְהָלַ֤ךְ לְפָנֶ֙יךָ֙ צִדְקֶ֔ךָ כְּב֥וֹד יְהֹוָ֖ה יַאַסְפֶֽךָ׃
English:
Then shall your light burst through like the dawn And your healing spring up quickly; Your Vindicator shall march before you, The Presence of GOD shall be your rear guard.
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק ט׳ · Verse 9
Hebrew:
אָ֤ז תִּקְרָא֙ וַיהֹוָ֣ה יַעֲנֶ֔ה תְּשַׁוַּ֖ע וְיֹאמַ֣ר הִנֵּ֑נִי אִם־תָּסִ֤יר מִתּֽוֹכְךָ֙ מוֹטָ֔ה שְׁלַ֥ח אֶצְבַּ֖ע וְדַבֶּר־אָֽוֶן׃
English:
Then, when you call, GOD will answer; When you cry, [God] will say: Here I am. If you banish the yoke from your midst, The menacing hand, and evil speech,
פסוק י׳ · Verse 10
Hebrew:
וְתָפֵ֤ק לָֽרָעֵב֙ נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ נַעֲנָ֖ה תַּשְׂבִּ֑יעַ וְזָרַ֤ח בַּחֹ֙שֶׁךְ֙ אוֹרֶ֔ךָ וַאֲפֵלָתְךָ֖ כַּֽצׇּהֳרָֽיִם׃
English:
And you offer your compassion to the hungry And satisfy the famished creature— Then shall your light shine in darkness, And your gloom shall be like noonday.
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק י״א · Verse 11
Hebrew:
וְנָחֲךָ֣ יְהֹוָה֮ תָּמִיד֒ וְהִשְׂבִּ֤יעַ בְּצַחְצָחוֹת֙ נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ וְעַצְמֹתֶ֖יךָ יַחֲלִ֑יץ וְהָיִ֙יתָ֙ כְּגַ֣ן רָוֶ֔ה וּכְמוֹצָ֣א מַ֔יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר לֹֽא־יְכַזְּב֖וּ מֵימָֽיו׃
English:
GOD will guide you always— Slaking your thirst in parched places And giving strength to your bones. You shall be like a watered garden, Like a spring whose waters do not fail.
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק י״ב · Verse 12
Hebrew:
וּבָנ֤וּ מִמְּךָ֙ חׇרְב֣וֹת עוֹלָ֔ם מוֹסְדֵ֥י דוֹר־וָד֖וֹר תְּקוֹמֵ֑ם וְקֹרָ֤א לְךָ֙ גֹּדֵ֣ר פֶּ֔רֶץ מְשֹׁבֵ֥ב נְתִיב֖וֹת לָשָֽׁבֶת׃
English:
Some from your midst shall rebuild ancient ruins, You shall restore foundations laid long ago. And you shall be called “Repairer of fallen walls, Restorer of lanes for habitation.”
▶Commentaries (1)
פסוק י״ג · Verse 13
Hebrew:
אִם־תָּשִׁ֤יב מִשַּׁבָּת֙ רַגְלֶ֔ךָ עֲשׂ֥וֹת חֲפָצֶ֖ךָ בְּי֣וֹם קׇדְשִׁ֑י וְקָרָ֨אתָ לַשַּׁבָּ֜ת עֹ֗נֶג לִקְד֤וֹשׁ יְהֹוָה֙ מְכֻבָּ֔ד וְכִבַּדְתּוֹ֙ מֵעֲשׂ֣וֹת דְּרָכֶ֔יךָ מִמְּצ֥וֹא חֶפְצְךָ֖ וְדַבֵּ֥ר דָּבָֽר׃
English:
If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, From pursuing your affairs on My holy day; If you call the sabbath “delight,” GOD ’s holy day “honored”; And if you honor it and go not your ways Nor look to your affairs, nor strike bargains—
פסוק י״ד · Verse 14
Hebrew:
אָ֗ז תִּתְעַנַּג֙ עַל־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהִרְכַּבְתִּ֖יךָ עַל־[בָּ֣מֳתֵי] (במותי) אָ֑רֶץ וְהַאֲכַלְתִּ֗יךָ נַחֲלַת֙ יַעֲקֹ֣ב אָבִ֔יךָ כִּ֛י פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה דִּבֵּֽר׃ {פ}
English:
Then you can seek GOD’s favor. I will set you astride the heights of the earth, And let you enjoy the heritage of your father Jacob— For GOD’s mouth has spoken.
▶Commentaries (1)